Israel warned over forged passports

The federal government yesterday reacted strongly to allegations that forged Australian passports had been used by an Israeli hit squad by calling in the Israeli ambassador and warning that, if proved, the forgery was not “the act of a friend".

On Wednesday night, Dubai authorities announced they were investigating three suspects who travelled on Australian passports in relation to the murder of Hamas commander Mahmoud al-Mabhouh.

Foreign Minister
Stephen Smith
told parliament that preliminary analysis showed the passports – issued in 2003 – appeared to have been duplicated or altered.

“At this stage Australian officials have no information that the Australian passport holders were involved in anyway other than as victims of passport or identity fraud," Mr Smith said.

Opposition Leader
Tony Abbott
said he wanted to know why the government hadn’t ensured the security of the passport system.

“Why didn’t the government put in place a passport system that could not be subjected to this kind of scamming?" Mr Abbott said.

Mr Smith said Mr Abbott needed to think carefully before he spoke.

“The three passports involved were issued in 2003. Last time I looked you were involved in the government of that time as a minister," Mr Smith said in question time.

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The stoush followed the calling in of Israeli ambassador Yuval Rotem by the Foreign Minister, which is regarded in diplomatic circles as a high-level protest. Australian officials in Tel Aviv also conveyed the government’s concerns to the Israeli government.

Prime Minister
Kevin Rudd
told radio station 3AW that if any state was involved it would be treating Australian people with contempt.

“That’s why we’ve had, frankly, most of the security and intelligence community in Canberra up a lot of the night going through the facts as we know them on this, because this is not just a matter of national security interest, it is a matter of deep interest to all members of the Australian travelling public," he said.

“That’s why we will not leave a single stone unturned."

Mr Smith said he had underlined to Mr Rotem that Australia expected the Israeli government, its officials and its agencies to co-operate “fully and transparently" with the investigation into the matter.

“I also indicated to him that if we didn’t receive that co-operation then we would potentially draw adverse conclusions from that," he said